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Monday, June 3, 2013

Kobayashi hoping for 2014 F1 seat

Japan’s best ever F1 driver Kamui Kobayashi insists his target is to return to Formula 1 next year.

Dropped by Sauber at the end of last season, Kobayashi was signed by Ferrari to race a works 458 Italia in the 2013 world endurance championship.

But the 26-year-old is also keeping a toe in the Formula 1 waters, attending the recent Monaco Grand Prix and then testing a Formula 1 Ferrari car at Fiorano in preparation for a demonstration event in Russia next month.“I will also have a chance to test the simulator in the near future,” said Kobayashi.

“Personally speaking, I want to come back to Formula 1 next year,” he added.

If his mission fails, however, Kobayashi is vowing to repay all of the money pledged by his fans to add to his sponsor offerings to a potential Formula 1 employer.

He said the money raised so far is still in the bank.

“This (money) was purely for a Formula 1 seat,” said Kobayashi. “And if I don’t need to use it for next year’s Formula 1 seat, I want to return it all to whoever made the donations.” (GMM)